One Whole Week

A whole week has passed since my last post.  Did anything worth writing about happen during those seven days?  Did I have an "ah ha moment" somewhere in there?  Did any creative juices flow resulting in anything lasting?

Three trips to the big city in one week.  That is something.  Months go by when I never drive the 120 km. to the Big Smoke.  One visit to the Hearing and Balance Clinic for testing, one tour of the Craft Show checking out long-arm quilting setups, and  a two and half hour shopping extravaganza bringing home the perfect area carpet for the new living room arrangement. 

Then there was the new ceiling installed, painted and spackled in the kitchen.   Something definitely new are surround-sound speakers wired and installed in the kitchen and dining room ceilings--a step in the right direction.  A visit from the mason on Wednesday resulted in an enlarged opening between the kitchen and the porch and horrendous red DUST, but progress nonetheless. 

As far as creativity goes, I am slowing mastering the art of the rag mop.  Did you know that dropped plaster on floors and walls dissolves with enough water and scrubbing? 

Saving the best for last:  the "ah ha moment".  This fall's bible study in the book of Isaiah has been wonderful.  Lots to learn about who God is, and how much He loves us and calls us to come to Him.  This week we delved into the 53rd chapter, all about the Suffering Servant.  So much there to chew on.  Looking at verse seven: 

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. 

In all the years I have read this verse, I had assumed that meant He didn't cry out in fear or pain, or that He didn't complain, whine, or swear at His abusers.  Of course that is true, but it means an amazing lot more.  Referring to all the references where God Spoke,  or Opened His Mouth we see that incredible things happened each and every time. 

In Genesis One, God spoke and created the earth, and the whole Universe.  In Exodus chapters 19 and 20 when God spoke to Moses and the Hebrews, they were so terrified, they asked Moses to intercede for them from then on, because if God continued to speak to them all, they would surely die.  In John 11:43, we read of Jesus calling Lazarus to come out of the tomb and back to life, even though he had died three days earlier.  In Mark 4: 38 Jesus speaks to the waves on the Sea of Galilee and the storm completely abates.    Revelation 1:  11-16 speak of Jesus as He will appear when He comes again, and says that out of His mouth comes a two-edged sword.  Acts 8: 26 -40 Phillip teaches the Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus starting from these same verses in Isaiah chapter 53. 

My "ah ha" was seeing that if Jesus had spoken from the cross, He could have called down legions of angels to free Him, could have overturned the Roman occupation of His country, could have put an end to the oppression and suffering right then and there.  But, He chose to be silent.  He chose to have the sin of the whole world laid upon Him.  He willingly, and silently suffered in my place.  He created an opportunity for reunion with God the Father for all the peoples of our earth. 

What an amazing moment.